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School standards in England are among the highest in the world, according to
new international tests published today.

Achievements in maths and science by English teenagers put them in the top ten
across the globe, while reading levels among most younger children are on a
par with the world’s best.

The findings cast doubt on the narrative used by Michael Gove, the Education
Secretary, to justify his school reforms. He has repeatedly argued that
British schools have “plummeted” in international league tables.

His claims have been based on a single set of standardised tests that, while
respected, have attracted some